An amazing video that has gone viral on YouTube showcases an amazing technology—a 3D printer that replicates tools, and pretty much anything else you can wrap your head around.

The future is here, folks! An amazing video that has gone viral on YouTube showcases an amazing technology—a 3D printer that replicates tools, and pretty much anything else you can wrap your head around. The video, a clip from National Geographic, has racked up a whopping 1.7 million views so far and is continuing to climb the YouTube charts. The video features theoretical physicist David Kaplan. Kaplan heads to Burlington, MA to visit the Z Corporation, developers of an amazing 3D printing technology. He brings along a crescent wrench to see if they can replicate it with their 3D printers. Amazingly enough, they can—and the printed wrench is even functional!

Joe Titlow, the Vice President of Product Management at Z Corporation, explains how 3D printing works. “Most printers will print things in two dimensions. A 3-dimensional printer will then take that to the third dimension and make it something you hold in your hand.” 3D objects are printed using a specially engineered composite material that starts out as a powder. A binder material is then added to the powder to bind the object together.

Sounds too incredible to believe? It’s not. Check it out in action in the video below. I thought this video was amazing. In fact, I was so engrossed in it that I completely forgot I was making toast and nearly burned down my apartment (oops!)! What do you think about Z Corporation’s 3D printing technology? Watch the video, and then let us know what you think in the comments below.

Megan O’Neill is the resident web video enthusiast here at Social Times. Megan covers everything from the latest viral videos to online video news and tips, and has a passion for bizarre, original and revolutionary content and ideas.